Today is September 26^th, 2008. Last year on this very day, the agents of Coldwell Banker, Triad REALTORS  Burlington Office lost someone very precious to them: Sandra Dee Blanks. For those of you who don't know me or my background, I came to CBTR as the receptionist, moved on to try my hand at sales and ended up assisting the famous Elizabeth Ward Small.

Now, a  little painting of Sandra. Imagine short, salt-in-pepper hair, a little heavy in the middle but with Tina Turner legs that I, at age 26, would kill to have.  Every morning she came to work with a Biscuitville biscuit in her hand either huffing grumpily or humming anxiously in anticipation of the day she had before her. You see, Sandra came into the office almost every day and worked until often late hours in the evening. She was that serious and dedicated to her work.

As an administrative support staffer, I loved Sandra because she did things right. Her listings were always perfect. Her pictures numbered, named and resized correctly. Her paperwork in order by the checklist at the front of the packet. And, I never received phone calls from angry sellers saying Sandra never called them back.

As a baby agent, I loved Sandra even more. I loved her because she took me under her wing in many ways. She invited me to listing appointments, some of which I went on, some of which I didn't want to go on. Why? She didn't do these quick and dirty 30 minute listing appointments. No. Her listing appointments involved about 2-4 hours of explaining her CMA, going over her marketing and then just shooting the breeze and making friends with her clients.

Mainly, I would go with Sandra so that I could learn to measure. She had a system: you always went with someone and you always went in the same direction around the house so you don't confuse yourself. Many a house that I have since measured, I have wanted Sandra with me.  I have also wanted her around when I have had questions about the law - she knew the book, and followed it.

Sandra passed a year ago today, one day after my birthday. I remember selfishly asking God not to take her on my birthday. It was hard to watch her fade and toward the end, many agents from our office went to visit her and take her banana Cook Out milkshakes. It was a time when we weren't competing with one another for more clients or a higher GCI. For those weeks from July to September, we were family, lifting up another family member.

Today, her Coldwell Banker family remembers her. We love you Sandra. We miss you. We can't wait to see you again!